10 Kid-Safe Lighting Options for Outdoor Entertaining

Check out these 10 DIY projects that will light up any outdoor party, kids or not.

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The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

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Posted Aug. 15, 2014 at 6:44 PM

Posted Aug. 15, 2014 at 6:44 PM

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Trying to entertain your guests while the kids run wild in the backyard amongst hazards tiki torches and lanterns is a hard act to pull off. Take one thing off your mind and check out these kid-safe, but still sophisticated, candle-less lighting options for your next patio party.
Mason Jar Chandelier
[caption id="attachment_330726" align="alignnone" width="476"] Katie Nathey[/caption]
Give an old chandelier a facelift with some spray paint, a few mason jars, and crystal accents. The bright, modern blue helps balance out the fancier crystal, and the color-coordinated mason jars protect the lightbulbs from the elements.
Clothespin Outdoor Deck Lights
[caption id="attachment_330727" align="alignnone" width="493"] Lauren Greutmen[/caption]
These inexpensive deck lights aren’t just kid-safe, they’re also kid-friendly: Lauren Greutman let her kids help with the crafting, and suggests that you do the same. All you need are clothespins, empty tuna cans, and battery-operated tea lights, making this a pretty, simple project that little hands can help with.
Hula Hoop Light Fixture
[caption id="attachment_330732" align="alignnone" width="493"] Ashley Willis[/caption]
Need a little more illumination for your outside dinner table? Grab one of your kid’s hula hoops, loop a strand of string lights around it, and hang the hoop from the table's umbrella frame using ribbon. Wrap the excess cord down the pole to keep children from entangling with it.
Solar Chandelier
[caption id="attachment_330735" align="alignnone" width="493"] Kandace Sechler[/caption]
If you want a chandelier for your backyard but don’t have a power outlet nearby, try this cordless version instead. The old electrical lights should pull right out of the chandelier socket, making this a surprisingly easy—and eco-friendly—swap.
Submerged Color Wall Sconces
[caption id="attachment_330733" align="alignnone" width="493"] Jennifer Hadfield[/caption]
These colorful sconces would make an eye-catching patio statement piece, and this project only requires paint, wood slats, and votive candles holders. Just be sure to use battery-operated tea lights to keep this DIY kid-safe!
Ping Pong Ball Cafe Lights
[caption id="attachment_330731" align="alignnone" width="493"] Liz Stanley[/caption]
While these lights aren’t specifically for the outdoors, the way the ping pong balls diffuse the multicolored lights will create a great ambience for your next patio party. Just be sure to only use LED lights: they don’t get hot, so the plastic won’t melt and kids can’t burn themselves.
Upcycled Leather Lantern
[caption id="attachment_330730" align="alignnone" width="472"] Northstory[/caption]
Reuse skinny leather belts and empty glass jars for this upcycling project. The tutorial uses regular votive candles, but you could easily switch them out for battery-operated tea lights to make this sophisticated lantern fireless.
Backyard String Lights
[caption id="attachment_330728" align="alignnone" width="493"] Gabby Deitsch[/caption]
This project shows you how to hang string lights far above kids’ and guests’ heads—even if your deck currently doesn’t have anywhere to hang them. This project is a little more labor-intensive, but if your backyard is sorely lacking in light, it’s a handy fix.
Lampshade Hanging Light
[caption id="attachment_330729" align="alignnone" width="493"] Carrie Spalding[/caption]
Transform an old lampshade into a new hanging light for your backyard or porch. For the slightly more ambitious crafter, this project does require rewiring the lamp, but Carrie Fisher provides detailed instructions and plenty of pictures to guide you through the process.
Homemade Rope Light Sign
[caption id="attachment_330725" align="alignnone" width="493"] Emma Chapman[/caption]
Add a personal touch to your backyard with this customizable rope light sign: since the rope light is so flexible, it can be bent into almost any word or symbol you want as long as you have enough nails to hold it. If this is sounds too complicated, you can easily line your garden or deck with rope lights instead.
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This article originally appeared as on Relish